Defensive changes can't stop Patriots

Eastside opened the game with two of its leading scorers on defense but still weren't able to overcome Class AAAA's ninth-ranked team.

Heritage defeated Eastside 7-0 at Sharp Stadium Friday, and outshot the Eagles 15-2 in the first half.

Eastside coach Joel Singleton opened the match with Amber Lafond and Sarah Gaddis joining Tara Harrison, Kari Dylong and Victoria Reich on the defensive side of the field.

The Patriots (13-3-1) still managed to score twice within the first four minutes of play, the first coming just 1:28 into the match.

With 17:44 left till halftime, the Lady Patriots went up 3-0. Only 11:11 remained in the first stanza before Eastside was able to fire its first shot.

"I had no idea it would be this sort of margin," Heritage coach Chad Suddeth said. "It helped that we scored early. That kind of gave us a spark and it snowballed from there."

The Patriots came out fast in the second half, scoring twice within the fourth minute of play to go up 5-0. The Eagles (8-6) got off four shots in the half while the Patriots got off 10 shots. Heritage would add goals with 16:27 and 7:54 left in the game to complete their 7-0 victory. Heritage's Arrielle Gunderson, who will play for the University of Florida next year, scored three goals and had two assists.

Eastside's best chance of the night came with 6:33 remaining when Savannah Hill sent a long flighted ball from the back up to Gaddis whose shot careened off the post.

Eagles' keeper Carly Farrow was credited with four saves on the night.

The loss was the Lady Eagles first in seven games dating back to March 13 at Eagles Landing. Eastside, 0-4 against AAAA schools and 2-1 against AAAAA opponents this season, completes the regular season with four games in seven days beginning with Senior Night on Wednesday, April 18, when AAAAA Luella visits Cousins Middle School in Covington. The match is set to start at 5:30 pm.